Pay For Ads

[Tri_ad]

Whats with all the FTA adverts appearing on Foxtel. I'm not paying to watch ads. AAARRRGGGHHH

[re-boot]

Whats with all the FTA adverts appearing on Foxtel. I'm not paying to watch ads. AAARRRGGGHHH

When you get your IQ up and running, it won't bother you anywhere near as much.

You'll probably find, like me, you rarely watch anything live.

Most of your viewing will be pre-recorded, and then you just fast forward through the ads

[pgdownload]

Whats with all the FTA adverts appearing on Foxtel. I'm not paying to watch ads. AAARRRGGGHHH

How exactly do you expect Foxtel to handle FTA TV ads? What happens when an ad comes on live TV? Blank the screen and play music?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Edited September 17, 2008 by pgdownload

[ritzav]

When you get your IQ up and running, it won't bother you anywhere near as much.

You'll probably find, like me, you rarely watch anything live.

Most of your viewing will be pre-recorded, and then you just fast forward through the ads

Agreed. I reluctantly upgraded from basic digital to IQ2 for extra $10 this week but now think that it was the best 10 bucks i spent... we recorded Boston Legal which was late at night on 7HD, it is meant to be a 1 hour show but we watched it in 35 mins yesterday at a time of our choice, goatt love the ffwding the ads

[palmag]

Whats with all the FTA adverts appearing on Foxtel. I'm not paying to watch ads. AAARRRGGGHHH

Let me formally welcome you to Foxtel..... :lol:

[Shonky*]

Agreed. I reluctantly upgraded from basic digital to IQ2 for extra $10 this week but now think that it was the best 10 bucks i spent... we recorded Boston Legal which was late at night on 7HD, it is meant to be a 1 hour show but we watched it in 35 mins yesterday at a time of our choice, goatt love the ffwding the ads

Wouldn't that have been an extra $200 + $10/month?

[ritzav]

Wouldn't that have been an extra $200 + $10/month?

Correct.

A bit OT here.... but a HD STB cost $200 too. IQ2 delivered to me FTA HD for 'free', from the same 'box' that gives me Basic Fox SD package i.e. without having to switch inputs on my AVR between Fox and getting FTA HD via the antenna. Yes, it makes my TV HD tuner redundant too. I know a clever universal remote would have made all the switching easy but I like using original remotes for all my gear. Switching between SkyNews and ABC-HD is much easier with IQ2, not to mention the picture on the screen looks the same as FTA picture thro' my TV tuner used to be softer than picture from fox unit. It also reduced the number of cables going up from the entertainment unit to the TV. All I have now going up the wall is a hdmi cable from the AVR and power cable ... reducing number of cables can only be good

[MattWinter]

I don't mind that Foxtel has ads. Firstly, many programs are made with natural breaks for advertising, and by putting ads in it allows foxtel to make programs start and finish either on the hour, or on the half-hour. If they had all their programs without advertising, programs would all start and end at weird times.

Also, if they get part of their revenue from advertising, and it keeps our prices down, well I'm all for that. (Although personally I think we still pay too much - I think if foxtel dropped prices more, they could make more money from advertising because they might have more subscribers).

As long as they don't put ads into movies and live sport I don't mind at all.

[ritzav]

As long as they don't put ads into movies and live sport I don't mind at all.

Agreed I love watching my cricket minus the stupid channel 9 ads between each bloody overs

[Tri_ad]

Mmmm, interesting replies.

I remember when I first installed Austar the only advertisments were for shows on other Channels. Then the Harvey Norman ads starting appearing during the half time of footy etc. Now it seems it's hard sometimes to determine the difference between Foxtel and FTA.

BTW Matt, the shows on Austar still started and finished at regular times, the difference was the adverts were for Austar programs, specials etc and not Mitsubishi's latest vehicle clearance.

Further to this, if as you say, Foxtel is generating revenue from advertising customers therefore keeping prices low, why does it seem channels that should be offered as part of the basic package now drifting into added extras?

Me thinks it's just greed, but hey, that just MO.

Regards

[MattWinter]

BTW Matt, the shows on Austar still started and finished at regular times, the difference was the adverts were for Austar programs, specials etc and not Mitsubishi's latest vehicle clearance.

Regards

Is that really much better? We still get heaps of ads for foxtel shows, any more would get very annoying IMO.

[Tri_ad]

Is that really much better? We still get heaps of ads for foxtel shows, any more would get very annoying IMO.

No, I'm not saying it's better. Simply commenting on the seemingly rapid influx of FTA advertisements which have flooded Foxtel.

I have no doubt that somewhere in the small print on the contract it says "Foxtel can change programming without notice" or something along those lines......but I just think it's wrong is all.

[Harlequin]

I don't mind that Foxtel has ads. Firstly, many programs are made with natural breaks for advertising, and by putting ads in it allows foxtel to make programs start and finish either on the hour, or on the half-hour. If they had all their programs without advertising, programs would all start and end at weird times.

Also, if they get part of their revenue from advertising, and it keeps our prices down, well I'm all for that. (Although personally I think we still pay too much - I think if foxtel dropped prices more, they could make more money from advertising because they might have more subscribers).

As long as they don't put ads into movies and live sport I don't mind at all.

In response to your statement about 'natural breaks', it wouldn't be so bad if Foxtel channels actually utilised said 'natural breaks' but as a general operational practice they don't.

The only channel which places ads in accordance with the so-called 'natural' breaks is UKTV - and that's only because the Foxtel operator (prior to the recent takeover of the management of UKTV by the BBC) was contractually obliged to do so. Not only that but UKTV clearly delineated the line between where programme content ended and ads began and vice versa.

As for the remainder of the popular entertainment channels, the ads are often placed seemingly at random and at random intervals. Having said that, I acknowledge that some channels ad-placement practices are more extreme than others; the worst offenders being Fox 8 and The Comedy Channel.

The most lamentable aspect of ads on 'Subscription TV' is the reproduction of the advertising patterns seen on FTA Commercial channels. The random and far too regular occurence of ad-breaks on commercial FTA can be put down to the plain fact that 100% of their income is derived from advertising; while the FTA advertising pattern is wholly objectionable, it is nevertheless understandable. As the majority of Subscription-TV income is supposed to come from consumer subscription, not advertising revenue, it makes no commercial sense whatsoever to alienate viewers by reproducing the disruptive, intrusive ad-placement practices of the FTA commercial channels. The viewer may well accept that programme presentation takes a back-seat to ads on FTA - a 'service' that they don't pay anything to access - but the same viewer is less inclined to accept such philosophy on a 'service' for which they are paying a decent wedge in monthly subscription.

And of course as the subscriber-base increases, so too is there a commensurate rise in the proportion of income which 'subscription TV' services can derive from advertising; which in turn mean that the more advertising 'space' that can be sold, the greater and more frequent the intrusion into programme content - to the ultimate point where programmes are trimmed of a few minutes here and there in order to accommodate the ads and the programme within the 'TV hour' (which by the way is an approximate 42/18 split, i.e. 42mins programme, 18 minutes ads and promos), a common practice of all Australian FTA commercial networks.

The foregoing practice isn't as evident on FTA for the main reason that a high percentage of programming is relatively new i.e. made within the previous 12-18 months. However, a good mount of the programming on subscription TV is often much older and its often the case that programmes may have durations of 26 and 48 minutes. So what happens when a Foxtel want to get 18 minutes of ads and promos and a 48min programme into an 'hour' slot? cut down on the ads? Yeah, right.

If you want a glimpse of how ads and promos will impact upon subscription TV programming in the near future, take a look at FTA now.

I gave Foxtel the flick four months ago and now download my programming; I'm watching new content from Australia, the UK and the US, as well as catching-up on programming which never made it to these shores - all ad-capped and 720p resolution xvids. The combined monthly cost of internet access (Naked DSL - no phone line rental, free local and National calls - with 100Gb per month) and premium Usenet provider, is less than the cost of Foxtel Platinum with IQ2 on its own (Foxtel Plat with IQ2 + magazine = $119.50pm (+ phone line rental + average monthly landline phone call costs = $200 total) ; NDSL + Prem Usenet account = $100 (no phone line rental, no cost for local and national 'phone calls). So all up an average monthly saving of $100 for my choice of programming and no ads.

And, yes, I watch all my programmes on my TV in the family viewing area.

You don't have to pay for ads if you don't want to.

[loony]

In response to your statement about 'natural breaks', it wouldn't be so bad if Foxtel channels actually utilised said 'natural breaks' but as a general operational practice they don't.

Yes they do.

Foxtel uses the natural breaks for their programming.

In one of the HD blogs they explained how the commercials are inserted and how they follow the schedule for commercial breaks as set out by the producer of the show.

[nang3]

In response to your statement about 'natural breaks', it wouldn't be so bad if Foxtel channels actually utilised said 'natural breaks' but as a general operational practice they don't.

The only channel which places ads in accordance with the so-called 'natural' breaks is UKTV - and that's only because the Foxtel operator (prior to the recent takeover of the management of UKTV by the BBC) was contractually obliged to do so. Not only that but UKTV clearly delineated the line between where programme content ended and ads began and vice versa.

As for the remainder of the popular entertainment channels, the ads are often placed seemingly at random and at random intervals. Having said that, I acknowledge that some channels ad-placement practices are more extreme than others; the worst offenders being Fox 8 and The Comedy Channel.

The most lamentable aspect of ads on 'Subscription TV' is the reproduction of the advertising patterns seen on FTA Commercial channels. The random and far too regular occurence of ad-breaks on commercial FTA can be put down to the plain fact that 100% of their income is derived from advertising; while the FTA advertising pattern is wholly objectionable, it is nevertheless understandable. As the majority of Subscription-TV income is supposed to come from consumer subscription, not advertising revenue, it makes no commercial sense whatsoever to alienate viewers by reproducing the disruptive, intrusive ad-placement practices of the FTA commercial channels. The viewer may well accept that programme presentation takes a back-seat to ads on FTA - a 'service' that they don't pay anything to access - but the same viewer is less inclined to accept such philosophy on a 'service' for which they are paying a decent wedge in monthly subscription.

And of course as the subscriber-base increases, so too is there a commensurate rise in the proportion of income which 'subscription TV' services can derive from advertising; which in turn mean that the more advertising 'space' that can be sold, the greater and more frequent the intrusion into programme content - to the ultimate point where programmes are trimmed of a few minutes here and there in order to accommodate the ads and the programme within the 'TV hour' (which by the way is an approximate 42/18 split, i.e. 42mins programme, 18 minutes ads and promos), a common practice of all Australian FTA commercial networks.

The foregoing practice isn't as evident on FTA for the main reason that a high percentage of programming is relatively new i.e. made within the previous 12-18 months. However, a good mount of the programming on subscription TV is often much older and its often the case that programmes may have durations of 26 and 48 minutes. So what happens when a Foxtel want to get 18 minutes of ads and promos and a 48min programme into an 'hour' slot? cut down on the ads? Yeah, right.

If you want a glimpse of how ads and promos will impact upon subscription TV programming in the near future, take a look at FTA now.

I gave Foxtel the flick four months ago and now download my programming; I'm watching new content from Australia, the UK and the US, as well as catching-up on programming which never made it to these shores - all ad-capped and 720p resolution xvids. The combined monthly cost of internet access (Naked DSL - no phone line rental, free local and National calls - with 100Gb per month) and premium Usenet provider, is less than the cost of Foxtel Platinum with IQ2 on its own (Foxtel Plat with IQ2 + magazine = $119.50pm (+ phone line rental + average monthly landline phone call costs = $200 total) ; NDSL + Prem Usenet account = $100 (no phone line rental, no cost for local and national 'phone calls). So all up an average monthly saving of $100 for my choice of programming and no ads.

And, yes, I watch all my programmes on my TV in the family viewing area.

You don't have to pay for ads if you don't want to.

I download all my shows as well but where can you get 100gb a month for $100?? i havent looked at other plans in aaaaages but im on IInet 24mbps 60gb total a month for about $80

[re-boot]

I download all my shows as well but where can you get 100gb a month for $100?? i havent looked at other plans in aaaaages but im on IInet 24mbps 60gb total a month for about $80

I'm lucky to still be on one of their grandfathered plans. I'm NEVER lettin' go!

24mbps, 80 gig for $74. Have bundled with iiPhone too.

I still get shaped sometimes.

I too would like more quota, at a reasonable price.

Edit - nang3.... you can. iiNet has this plan if you bundle with your home phone.

Home 6 (bundle) Bundled 40 GB 60 GB Shaped Free Dynamic $99.95 /mo

I'm tempted...

Edited September 18, 2008 by re-boot

[Harlequin]

Yes they do.

Foxtel uses the natural breaks for their programming.

In one of the HD blogs they explained how the commercials are inserted and how they follow the schedule for commercial breaks as set out by the producer of the show.

There's a significant and fundamental difference between the theory of ad-placement as outlined in an official foxtel blog and the practical reality of ad placement on foxtel channels.

You've been 'ad.

[Harlequin]

I download all my shows as well but where can you get 100gb a month for $100?? i havent looked at other plans in aaaaages but im on IInet 24mbps 60gb total a month for about $80

iiNet Naked DSL - 'Home 5' plan (40Gb peak + 60Gb off peak) for $90pm.

I avoid Torrents. I exclusively use Usenet via Astraweb premium usenet provider.

[re-boot]

iiNet Naked DSL - 'Home 5' plan (40Gb peak + 60Gb off peak) for $90pm.

I avoid Torrents. I exclusively use Usenet via Astraweb premium usenet provider.

I could be wrong here and risk being OT, but I think iiNet count uploads as part of your quota on any naked dsl plan.

I also just upgraded from my old grandfathered plan to home 6.

Get an extra 20 gb for only an extra $8.

Now 40/60.

[Harlequin]

I could be wrong here and risk being OT, but I think iiNet count uploads as part of your quota on any naked dsl plan.

I also just upgraded from my old grandfathered plan to home 6.

Get an extra 20 gb for only an extra $8.

Now 40/60.

Yes, uploads do count as part of the quota on NDSL plans. However, as VOIP accounts for 2-3kb per second, the cumulative data per month makes a very small dent in the total bandwidth allowance. This is another reason I avoid Torrents. Downloading and uploading on Usenet are totally independent of each other.

Good deal on the Home 6 plan then. I've found that 100Gb is enough for my monthly programme download and general internet activity needs on average without risking a bloody good throttling toward the end of the month.

Can't imagine ever going back to Foxtel (just getting back on topic).

enjoy the extra 20Gb.

cheers.

Edited September 19, 2008 by Harlequin

[Brad..]

Yes, uploads do count as part of the quota on NDSL plans. However, as VOIP accounts for 2-3kb per second, the cumulative data per month makes a very small dent in the total bandwidth allowance. This is another reason I avoid Torrents. Downloading and uploading on Usenet are totally independent of each other.

Good deal on the Home 6 plan then. I've found that 100Gb is enough for my monthly programme download and general internet activity needs on average without risking a bloody good throttling toward the end of the month.

Can't imagine ever going back to Foxtel (just getting back on topic).

enjoy the extra 20Gb.

cheers.

that best thing about iq2 you can fast forword ads

[redhenry]

Let me formally welcome you to Foxtel..... :lol:

As already pointed out:

1. Foxtel have no control over what the FTA channels send. In Perth we don't get the FTA channels at all via Foxtel so be happy that you at least have the choice.

2. Record everything and watch it later (even as it's recording assuming you have IQ or IQ2) and skip over the ads.

At the end of the day, it's YOUR choice. Not happy? Don't have Foxtel. Problem solved.

Besides you are not 'paying' for FTA advertising. It is viewable through Foxtel (in most states) as a complimentary service if you like. Nothing more!

Edited September 19, 2008 by redhenry

[hawto]

As already pointed out:

1. Foxtel have no control over what the FTA channels send. In Perth we don't get the FTA channels at all via Foxtel so be happy that you at least have the choice.

2. Record everything and watch it later (even as it's recording assuming you have IQ or IQ2) and skip over the ads.

At the end of the day, it's YOUR choice. Not happy? Don't have Foxtel. Problem solved.

Besides you are not 'paying' for FTA advertising. It is viewable through Foxtel (in most states) as a complimentary service if you like. Nothing more!

I don't think he meant the ads that are actually on the FTA channels through Foxtel. It was more the advertising on Foxtel specific channels for shows that are on the FTA channels.

[redhenry]

I don't think he meant the ads that are actually on the FTA channels through Foxtel. It was more the advertising on Foxtel specific channels for shows that are on the FTA channels.

Well if that's what s/he meant then it wasn't clear.

Point 2 is still valid though. Record and skip over or don't have Foxtel.

The old "it's crap value", "I don't pay for ads" etc etc arguments are old and boring. The customer always has the choice NOT to be a subscriber!

I know it's only an opinion but there is a lot of bleating on here about it and it's just one opinion versus another. Neither is right or wrong but it deos get tedious.

OK - rant over!

[Tri_ad]

Well if that's what s/he meant then it wasn't clear.

Point 2 is still valid though. Record and skip over or don't have Foxtel.

The old "it's crap value", "I don't pay for ads" etc etc arguments are old and boring. The customer always has the choice NOT to be a subscriber!

I know it's only an opinion but there is a lot of bleating on here about it and it's just one opinion versus another. Neither is right or wrong but it deos get tedious.

OK - rant over!

Then Don't Post if it's THAT Tedious.....................

**Pffft**